"Enough! Since you're so stubborn, I won't bother with you anymore. Do as you please!"
Chu Sheng lay back on the bed, turning his back in clear irritation.
Just as Chu'he was about to leave the room, Chu Sheng added, facing the wall, "The choice is yours. If you regret it later, don’t blame anyone. Crying won’t help either."
Chu'he paused at the doorway, warmth blooming in her chest as she looked at his retreating figure. "Dad, I won’t regret it."
With a soft "Rest well," she stepped out and closed the door, leaving the room in silence.
Chu Sheng heaved a long sigh. "She’s really grown her wings now."
The afternoon sun bathed everything in golden light, the breeze gentle and soothing. Dappled shadows danced under the trees, mingling with the cicadas' song and the rustle of leaves, as if time itself had slowed.
A young man sat on the steps beneath the shade, his silver hair gathered loosely. Propping his chin in his hands, he hummed a tuneless melody, eyes crinkling with amusement as he watched a tiny spider scurry about, hunting ants.
The once fluffy, adorable creature now had patches of fur missing here and there, giving it a comically uneven appearance.
The moment familiar footsteps reached his ears, his face lit up, eyes sparkling like a sky full of stars.
Chu'he settled beside him, mirroring his pose with her chin in her hands. "What are you up to?" she asked, grinning.
"Thinking of you," Ninth replied, tilting his head slightly, his gaze serene and sweet.
Her heart fluttered. She reached out to stroke his long, silky hair—its softness something she’d always loved. When their eyes met again, her own shone brighter.
A single glance was enough for them to sense what the other desired.
Ninth leaned down, offering himself willingly as she pressed a light kiss to the corner of his lips. As she pulled back, he chased after her, peppering her with quick, playful kisses before finally stopping.
Chu'he clasped his cold hands, only for him to intertwine their fingers tightly. "I’m sorry, Ninth, for making you wait out here alone for so long."
He shook his head. "I could hear your voice, feel your presence. And I knew you’d come for me soon."
His eyes, already like crimson gemstones, shimmered with laughter, as if a flame had been gently stirred by the wind, casting mesmerizing ripples of light.
Chu'he leaned into his embrace, resting against his chest. "Do you ever feel lonely?" she asked softly.
Ninth lowered his gaze to the soft strands of hair atop her head, his fingers curling unconsciously. After a pause, he let out a quiet chuckle, his voice warm like sunlight. "I used to."
"And now?"
His hand slid to the nape of her neck, drawing her closer. The heat of his palm seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes.
"Now that I have A'he in my arms, I don’t."
The curve of his smile and the lightness in his voice brimmed with joy.
At just seventeen or eighteen, the longer he spent with her, the more alive he seemed—finally becoming an ordinary young man, elated for hours over nothing more than a smile from the girl he loved.
Yet, for some reason, Chu'he often felt a pang of guilt toward him.
Their beginning had been built on her lies, and in this relationship, he’d been passive, letting her paint him in every hue. The existence of the Lover’s Crest only deepened her sense of inadequacy.
So, she wanted to give him every good thing she could.
Pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, she always found an inexplicable sense of fulfillment and peace.
"Ninth, don’t be afraid. I won’t leave you."
He looked down at her, fingers brushing the soft hair behind her ear. A low laugh escaped him, tinged with a barely noticeable roughness. "I know."
Even if everyone here despised him, Chu'he would still love him.
She nuzzled his chest. "My dad has agreed to let us be together."
Ninth chuckled, resting his chin atop her head and pulling her snugly against him. "That’s wonderful," he murmured, his voice feather-light, as if carried by the wind.
Ninth had never cared for social niceties, but that didn’t mean he was oblivious to others’ feelings toward him.
He knew Chu Sheng still disliked him—just as Chu Sheng knew Ninth didn’t care for him either.
But they both loved Chu'he, and she loved them in return. So, in the end, they’d each relent a little.
Still, Ninth fell so far short of Chu Sheng’s ideal son-in-law that even without opposition, the older man’s resentment lingered. It would likely take time for him to fully accept the reality.
"You haven’t eaten since we got back. Come on, let’s get you something."
Chu'he tugged Ninth to his feet. Big Eyes, having just swallowed an ant, hurried after them, eager to climb onto Chu'he—whom it adored.
A small green snake peeked from her shoulder, flicking its tongue in warning.
Big Eyes skittered back, too afraid to approach.
But the next moment, Chu'he crouched down and scooped the little spider into her palm.
The black, patchy-furred creature curled into a timid ball, its oversized eyes glistening pitifully. Compared to ordinary spiders, it seemed utterly harmless and endearing.
She stroked the remaining tufts on its back. "Ninth, what’s its name?"
"Big Eyes."
Chu'he burst out laughing. "Fits it perfectly. It’s cute."
Ninth moved to shoo it away. "You don’t like bugs with lots of legs."
"I do now!" She shielded the spider in her hand. "Ninth, stop bullying it."
"Why does A'he like them now?"
"Because people change."
Ninth’s lashes flickered. A silence fell over him. "People... always change?"
His breath hitched, tension coiling beneath the surface. His grip on her hand tightened, as if afraid of something unspoken.
Chu'he, oblivious, laced their fingers and skipped ahead cheerfully. "Ninth, everything in this world changes. No one stays the same. But I know two things that will never change, no matter what."
His voice softened. "What things?"
"First," she declared solemnly, "why Ninth is so utterly lovable."
His lips quirked, eyes gleaming. "And the second?"
"The second thing that’ll never change..."
She dragged it out, delighting in his growing impatience before finally laughing and rising onto her toes to hug him tightly.
"That's why I like you so, so, so much!"
Caught off guard, he stumbled back a step but quickly regained his footing, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in the crook of her neck. A short, light laugh escaped him, warm and lively.
The cicadas' chirping grew even more raucous, mingling with the boy's laughter like a summer breeze dipped in honey, sweetly entwining around the two of them.
Chu'he thought it must be because he had such a sweet tooth—even the swaying tree shadows, the dappled sunlight, and this year's unbearable summer heat were all tinged with this irresistible sweetness.
